Black & White Bag

A few weeks ago I was on a bag making kick.  With scraps I had on hand I made this up in just minutes!  I took a rectangle of black material, cut strips of white, sewed the strips to the rectangle, then sewed it all into a basic bag.  I added velcro, a strap, and a few rosettes. . .

It's for the 10 year old, but I've used it a few time too.  I LOVE it!

For a full list of parties I link to click HERE!

Sewing Outfits & My Fear of Patterns

I made a couple of outfits for the 10 year old before our Disney trip.  Here's the deal though, I'm terrified of patterns.  There's lots of tiny print, and foreign words, and little points, and all sorts of things I don't understand about them.  So, I just wing it.  That doesn't turn out too well in the end.  The above yellow skirt didn't hold up very well in the wash (apparently I don't know how to hem properly).  And the below white top I completely screwed up (it was supposed to have an elastic top...at some point I sewed too much over the elastic and it's REALLY tight now, haha) - it will make it's future debut as a bag :O). . .

The pink top and the green skirt both turned out great, AND washed up well.  I guess I should go take a sewing class and learn how to do it. . .but, that probably won't happen anytime soon!  I think I'll stick to what I know :O).

Thank goodness my momma gave me all this scrap material to play with.

Men's Shorts to Bag

The title of this post should actually read, "Men's Shorts to Indiana Jones Bag", because that is what my son has adopted it as! 

Chuck got a big hole in his favorite shorts...

So, I turned them into a bag.  You can't tell from these pictures, but it is very roomy inside and can hold a ton of stuff...

I added velcro to keep Indiana Jones' toys all safe and sound while he's running around attacking things...

Costco had the same shorts for sale this year, so we bought 3 pairs (in different colors) for Chuck....I told them that they will make great bags next year :O)...

For a complete list of parties we link to click HERE!

She's Learning to Sew!

Last night I started teaching the 10 year old how to sew.  She LOOOOVES it!  In fact, this morning she woke up and sat right down at the sewing machine and has been sewing all day...um, yes, it's almost 3pm and she's still in her jammies - sewing. 

We have some 9" square scraps from holiday rag quilts and table runners my mom made.  She decided to make little pillows for her grandma's for Easter.  She made them all on her own, AND they're reversible :O).  That was her idea, and I think it's so cute that she is exploring her creative side. 

Here is the first side of her pillow...

She is making folded flowers, but instead of gluing the petals she is sewing them in place.  Here is the backside...

So fun!  Can't wait to see what else she comes up with...although, I'm hoping to have some machine time of my own sometime soon :O). 

Pre-Shirred Fabric Dresses

The other day (again at Wal-Mart), I walked passed the fabric area - with zero intent of buying anything - and could NOT resist this pre-shirred fabric!  I've always wanted to try to make one...

Does it get any easier?  I bought enough material to make both my girls matching dresses.  I hemmed it, sewed up the back, added straps, and a flower....

This is the 3 year olds.  I've got the 10 year olds done, but hers still needs a flower...

I love those elastic gathers, so fun...

She seems to like it too.  With the fabric I bought I will get 2 dresses (including straps), and enough fabric leftover to make flowers for 2 headbands (I've already made a couple of rolled rosettes).  Total cost for both dresses and accessories - $18.00.  I am LOVING how cost effective sewing can be.  I can't think of any store that I can buy this cute of a dress with a matching headband (pictures coming later) for 9 bucks!...

For a full list of parties I link to click HERE!

Gussied Up Garanimals Skort

 I was at Wal-Mart the other day and couldn't resist loading up the cart with every color of the Garanimals skorts and leggings for the 3 year old.  I figured the possibilities were endless with adding a bit of cuteness to them. Plus, the spring colors were so bright and adorable.  Here's my before (sorry for the crappy lighting)...

I followed THIS tutorial to make a Crushed Flower out of a fat quarter my mom picked up for me the other day....

I tacked down the bottom petals with my sewing machine so that it will wash up nice.  Can't wait to work on the others!...

Click HERE for a full list of parties I've linked to!

1st Pillow Case Dress - Kind of

This sweet little 2 year old is my 3 year olds best buddy!  We are blessed to have her in our home each day...

Of all the kids she seems most interested in what I'm doing with my sewing machine.  She often sits next to me and watches me sew....

With all of the Easter clothes I've been sewing for my girls, today was the first day that she asked if she could also please have a dress...

So, we went to my mom's bucket full of scraps and picked out some material she liked (this is where the "kind of" comes in...I didn't actually use a pillowcase, just cut the material like one).  I made my first attempt to sew a pillowcase dress (originally saw these on Sugar Bee), and of course made a matching folded flower headband...

Doesn't she look adorable?  She's so cute, she could wear anything and be completely irresistible :O).

Twirly Play Skirt - Tutorial

This is a more basic version of the Twirly Tulle skirts that I've been making.  This was completely made from scraps my mom gave me!  I always love FREE! 

It's loosely based on the Skirt Pattern that I posted the other day.  My daughter is 3, so the measurements I will give you are based off of her size. 

Start with one strip that is 36" in length and 7" wide (for the waist), and 2 strips that are 31" each and 9 inches wide (for the bottom).  As well as any trim that you would like to add to each...

I ironed and then hemmed the 2 - 31" strips...

Flipped them over and sewed on the trim...

Sewing both edges of it.  When I made the Twirly Tulle skirts I actually used Stitch Witchery for both the hem and the trim.  It causes the skirts to hang a bit more stiff, and I wanted this one to ruffle a bit more...

Then you sew both short ends together and iron the folds out flat...

With both short ends sewn together you will have a full loop...

Set the bottom pieces aside.  Sew the trim onto your waist piece in the desired place...

Then sew the short ends together forming your loop...

Go back to your big loop and ruffle the top edge to equal 35 1/2".  You will need it to ruffle to the size of your waist piece (you lose a 1/2" when you sew the ends together on the waist)...

Then you will sew a stitch that holds the ruffle in place...

Then with both pieces inside out, and right sides lined up inside, you will sew them together with a zig zag stitch....

So that when it is turned rightside out it will look like this...

Am I clear as mud to this point?!  Next, you will fold the top edge over by about 1/4" and iron it.  Then fold it over again to accommodate the space needed for your elastic and iron it again.  Then you are ready to stitch the casing for your elastic...

Leaving a 1-2" hole for the elastic to thread through (cut elastic 1" smaller than child's waist)...

Once you have it all the way through, overlap the elastic and sew it together...

Once you have the elastic sewn, then stitch up the hole, and stitch the elastic in a couple of places to prevent it from twisting.  Then you will have your finished skirt...

I, of course, had to make a flower to attach to it.  I cut my circles.  I'm getting pretty quick with these.  Now I just draw one circle and then fold the material for how many I want....

I was going to put it on a broach pin so that it could be removable, but it was too floppy.  I just stitched it on...

Remember the headband I made the other day out of this same material?  Well, she broke it in half, so I'll have to make another one :O)...

Click HERE for a full list of parties I link to!

Zebra Print & Yellow Twirly Tulle Skirt

After finishing the Spring Outfit for the 3 year old my 10 year old was so excited for me to make one for her.  We wanted it to coordinate, but not completely match.  We've decided these will be their Easter dresses!...

So, now I just need to make her a matching headband and shirt to go with her skirt like I did for the 3 year old...

I know I promised a tutorial, but honestly, I'm still faking my way through it and wouldn't know where to begin to explain it.  I'd say your still better off just purchasing the pattern from the below post...keeping in mind I shortened it both in width and height, as well as added belt loops and ribbon :O). 

Click HERE for a full list of parties I link to!